Called

Ministry is a calling on one’s life

Paul was called into the ministry

“called to be an apostle” apostle means a person who is set our or sent fourth

Notice Paul didn’t choose this direction on his own

Notice Paul wasn’t in the ministry because he the ability to do so

Paul wasn’t in the ministry because it paid well

Paul wasn’t in the ministry to get anything out of it for himself

Power

Glory

riches

Paul was a minister of the gospel for one reason only: GOD HAD CALLED HIM

I read a book over the summer written by a man with many years of pastoral experience

Paul had a call on his life

He spoke about this subject of calling and made this statement: “If you can do anything else in your life than become a pastor do it, because if you can do anything else then you are not called”

Of all the people God could have called, he called the greatest enemy of the church

Peter Drucker (a leadership guru) listed the 4 hardest jobs in the US

The President of the United States

A University President

A CEO of a hospital

A pastor

According to facts and trends

84% of pastors are on call 24/7

80% expect conflict in their church

54% find the role of pastor frequently overwhelming

Despite these facts, less than 1% leave the pulpit each year

Coming into the ministry is a call upon the life

Paul said he has been separated (set apart) to the gospel of God

The calling of a minister is not to make people happy, build a church, or conform to certain expectations of culture or trends

The calling of a minister is to further the gospel of God

What is the Gospel? The good news of Jesus Christ

Acts 26:16 NKJV

But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.

Preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ is the primary function and calling of a minister

Whether you are called to be a pastor

Whether you are called to be a deacon

Whether you are called to be a Sunday School teacher

Whether you are called to teach kids

The Primary function of that call is to preach Jesus to a lots and dying world